
Colorado Takes Big Step with New Voting Rights Act
Colorado lawmakers have passed a groundbreaking new law called the Colorado Voting Rights Act (CVRA). This important law is meant to make voting fairer for everyone, especially for people of color and those who have often had trouble having their voices heard. The bill is now waiting for Governor Jared Polis to sign it into law.
What Is the Colorado Voting Rights Act?
The Colorado Voting Rights Act gives people in Colorado more power to challenge unfair voting systems. Sometimes, the way elections are set up makes it harder for certain groups to get their votes counted fairly. This law will help stop those unfair practices.
The CVRA is based on the California Voting Rights Act, which was passed earlier in that state. It is the first law of its kind to be passed since 2013, when the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision (Shelby County v. Holder) that weakened the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. Colorado’s new law aims to restore some of those lost protections at the state level.
Key Features of the New Law
The Colorado Voting Rights Act includes several important parts:
- Stops voting rules that discriminate based on race, color, or language minority status.
- Gives people a clear way to challenge unfair election systems in Colorado’s state courts.
- Requires cities and counties to fix unfair voting systems, possibly by creating new voting districts.
- Helps communities of color have a real chance to elect leaders who represent them.
Why Is This Law Important?
Voting rights are a big issue in America right now. Many states have changed their voting laws in ways that make it harder for some groups to vote. The Colorado Voting Rights Act is designed to make sure everyone’s voice counts, no matter where they live or what background they come from.
Janai S. Nelson, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), said, “Today’s passage of the Colorado Voting Rights Act is a momentous step forward in the fight to protect and expand access to the ballot box. At a time when voting rights are under attack across the country, Colorado has set a powerful example by enacting strong protections for voters of color and all those who have historically been marginalized in our democracy.”
How Will the Law Change Elections?
The CVRA will make it easier to challenge certain types of elections. For example, in some places, all the voters in a city vote for every city council seat at once. This is called an “at-large” system. Sometimes, these systems make it hard for minority communities to win any seats at all, even if those communities make up a large part of the city’s population.
Under the new law, people can go to court and ask for changes if they believe an election system is unfair. The court might order the city to switch to a “district-based” election, where the city is split into smaller districts and each district elects its own council member. This can help make sure everyone has a fair chance to choose their leaders.
Who Helped Make This Happen?
Many different groups and people worked together to get this law passed. Civil rights organizations, community leaders, and voting rights advocates all supported the CVRA. The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund was one of the groups leading the effort.
Stuart Naifeh, Policy Counsel at LDF, said, “Colorado’s new law will serve as a model for other states seeking to protect the fundamental right to vote. We look forward to working with communities across Colorado to ensure the effective implementation of the CVRA and to continue the fight for a more inclusive and representative democracy.”
What Happens Next?
The Colorado Voting Rights Act will become law once Governor Polis signs it. After that, cities, counties, and other local governments will need to check their voting systems to make sure they do not violate the new rules. If someone believes their community is not being fairly represented, they can use the CVRA to challenge the system in state court.
The law also makes it clear that local governments have to take action if they find problems. They might need to draw new district lines or change how elections are run to make sure everyone gets a fair shot.
Why Some People Are Calling This a “Historic” Law
Supporters say the CVRA is a big deal because:
- It brings back protections that were lost when the Supreme Court weakened the federal Voting Rights Act.
- It helps make sure that people of color and language minorities are not left out of the political process.
- It sets an example for other states that want to protect voting rights.
Looking Ahead: What This Means for Colorado Voters
The Colorado Voting Rights Act is likely to bring real changes to how elections are run in the state. If it works as planned, more communities will have a chance to elect leaders who truly represent them. Supporters say this is an important step toward making sure every vote counts and every voice is heard.
As Colorado moves forward with this new law, many eyes across the country will be watching to see how it works and whether other states decide to follow Colorado’s lead.